Olympian Satoshi Ishii picks up first career MMA victory in New Zealand

http://mmajunkie.comSatoshi Ishii, the Olympic judo gold medalist who garnered big attention when made his pro mixed-martial-arts debut in late 2009, picked up his first pro win this past weekend.

The 23-year-old Japanese fighter defeated Tafa Misipati in the headliner of an X-polsion event in New Zealand.

Ishii, who signed a contract with World Victory Road’s Sengoku event series this past summer, made quick work of the Kiwi and submitted Misipati via first-round armbar.

Ishii now plans to return to Hawaii to train for a possible summer bout in Japan.

The fighter is now 1-1 in his young career. Ishii made his pro debut in December at a planned WVR show that later became a joint MMA/K-1 event with DREAM. Despite heavy expectations, Ishii faltered and dropped a unanimous decision to fellow Olympian Hidehiko Yoshida in a featured MMA bout.

The bout, though, proved entertaining. And despite Ishii’s judo black belt and Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, he elected to stand and trade with Yoshida, who also happily kept the fight upright.

Now with his first pro win, Ishii is likely to earn a top billing at a summer Japanese show, though he’s previously stated he eventually wants to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and fight in the U.S.
(Pictured: Satoshi Ishii)